Love & Blood - part 5

Stand up, boy, and come here. The prince's voice was deep and smooth. He watched with hooded eyes and a half smile as Kakarot slowly approached and stood ramrod straight before him.

He's shorter than I imagined, Kakarot thought. But there's no denying that power.

Prince Vejita's gaze wandered over the younger Saiyan's form. He circled him slowly and came back to face him. A bead of sweat broke out on Kakarot's face. He stared straight ahead at the wall.

You're suppressing your ki, Vejita said.



No holding back, understand? I want a good workout. I need... The prince clenched his teeth and bared his fangs. I need... to... fight... He almost snarled, but managed to hold his temper.

Go to the locker room and change. There are uniforms for you to try.

Kakarot bowed and left. When he returned, the prince was pacing, arms folded, one index finger tapping on the other forearm. The prince looked up and gave him a lop-sided smile.

I see you like loose clothing.

Comes from being confined, sire.

Well. Enough chit-chat. Let's see what you're made of.

The Saiyans faced each other, prince to servant, and bowed. They squared off.

Remember, don't hold back.

They circled each other, then Vejita pushed in for a jab to Kakarot's jaw. Kakarot threw up a weak block and backed off.

What's your name? Vejita moved in and threw a fake punch to the face and a straight punch to Kakarot's gut.

He grunted and sprang back a few feet.

Vejita rushed him with a reverse hook kick, whirled around and followed with a flying turning kick to his head, catching the young Saiyan by surprise. He staggered backwards and dropped his guard, giving Vejita the opportunity to one-two-three punch him. Kakarot flew into the wall, but recovered quickly and dodged the next attack, Vejita two-footing it into the wall with a resounding THWACK.

Kakarot panted and flew back, crouching low.

Vejita circled him again.

Who's your father?



Vejita dropped his guard and stared, and Kakarot rushed him with a vicious punch to his jaw that sent the prince flying into the wall. Vejita stood up, wiped the blood from his mouth and grinned.

Good. Taking advantage of your opponent's weakness.

Kakarot smiled at him crouching low, eyes glittering from under his thick eyebrows.

Vejita matched his stance. he said. Then you have raging Saiyan blood in your veins, don't you, boy. It wasn't a question.

Kakarot growled softly and feinted with a punch. Vejita dodged the blow with a simple shift of the head. He matched the punch and Kakarot imitated the dodge, head and shoulders moving like lightning and springing back. They both backed off and circled each other again.

Grinning, Vejita launched himself with a and landed blow after blow while Kakarot blocked and backed up. Vejita took to the air and Kakarot followed as the prince delivered a vicious front kick to Kakarot's jaw. The taller Saiyan blocked the kick with a scoop that tossed the smaller man into a somersault. Then Kakarot transmitted above the prince and dropped down with one foot to Vejita's back and sent the prince spiraling to the floor. Vejita groaned and disappeared in a flash of ki, coming up behind Kakarot with an elbow to his neck. But Kakarot saw him coming, spun around and grabbed the prince's fist in his large toughened hand. Kakarot punched with the other and Vejita grabbed his hand. They strained against each other, pushing, bodies coming so close that they could feel each other's breath. Vejita grinned.

You're holding back still, he hissed and leaned harder into his opponent's body. Kakarot panted and growled.

Do you want revenge, Kakarot? Do you want to kill the ones who killed your father? Vejita's voice was barely a whisper.

Kakarot snarled, his ki flaring red and shoved Vejita with all his might, delivering one vicious blow after another while the Saiyan prince backed up, arms in an guarding his face. The prince transmitted out for relief and came up behind Kakarot, who whirled and met Vejita's knee with his, then twisted around with a tight hook kick to the prince's back.

Vejita's spine bent backwards and he hit the floor hard, but instantly transmitted to the air, meeting Kakarot's descending foot by grabbing it and whipping him against the far wall with a crash that shook the gym.

Kakarot instantly recovered and slammed hard into Vejita's face, where the prince threw up a strong hand to block. In a burst of ki, the prince whirled around and grabbed Kakarot around the neck. The young Saiyan's hands instinctively came up to grab the prince's arm as he strained against the tightening muscles. Vejita's lips were practically in his ear as he put one knee in Kakarot's back, bending him backwards.

He hissed, Do you want to kill the ones who killed Fasha, Kakarot? Oh, yes, I know about her. Do you want to make them suffer? Kakarot struggled against the strong arm, his aura beginning to glow, his breath growing labored, ebony eyes flashing fire. Answer me.

Y-yes, sire. He was losing oxygen fast.

No. Don't yes, sire' me. Do you want to make them suffer for killing your father and your caretaker and your king? For making you spend endless days in that stone prison? Vejita gripped the man's neck harder, but Kakarot had had enough.

he screamed and in a blaze of power, burst free from Vejita's grip, somersaulted to face his prince and, like a madman, rushed him, pummeling him, his fists flying faster than Vejita could follow. Then, with a ki-enhanced kick, he drove the prince into the wall, transmitted to his embedded body and pounded him until Vejita, with a war cry, burst free from the prison and head-butted the young Saiyan across the room. Snapping to a stop, Kakarot stiffened his body, drove his fists down, arched his back and screamed.

Faaaassshhhhaaa! I WILL avenge you!

His eyes flashed green, ripples of energy climbed the raven locks, turning them gold, and with a shriek that pierced the soul, the golden aura burst from his body, the walls trembled, the floor shook, equipment fell over and pieces of stone flew up and into his aura, ricocheting around the room.

he screamed, and with an explosion that shook the building, the planet and the very heavens themselves, Kakarot ascended, and he launched himself at the startled prince who suddenly found himself flying across the room.

The prince skidded across the floor, quickly leapt to his feet and backflipped away as Kakarot came at him again, teeth clenched and fists crackling with energy. The prince could only shield himself as the rage-filled Saiyan descended on him.

Suddenly, the doors to the gym burst open and guards poured in, screaming with weapons raised. Kakarot stopped mid-air and glared toward the disturbance, the golden glow about him pulsating. He raised his hand and, fingers spread wide, sent a blast of energy that tore up huge chunks of concrete floor and sent the guards scattering and diving for cover.

Scatter shots seemed to appear out of nowhere. Startled, Kakarot turned to see the prince letting fly with energy blasts that kicked up debris until the air was filled with choking dust. Vejita flew to the young Saiyan and grabbed his shoulder. His eyes were blazing like a wildman's, his ki was pulsating red.

Now, Kakarot. Now the revolution begins, he shouted, and turning he began blasting away at the door until the hole gaped like a giant maw, guards pouring through it like vomit. Their weapons blazed away at the Saiyans, but their blasts and bullets just bounced off their energy.

Kakarot trembled. His eyes grew wide with blood lust and, with a roar that seemed to tear his heart from his heaving chest, he reared back and let fly with an energy ball that blasted a hole in the thick concrete and dug a crater so deep that a dozen guards fell in and disappeared from sight.

The cool outside air hit them like a balm. Blue sky and bright sun beckoned them, and with a trail of ki that collapsed in on itself, the two warriors rocketed out of the building to freedom.